Comparative Study of Active Thermography Techniques for the Nondestructive Evaluation of Honeycomb Structures

In this article, the theoretical and experimental aspects of three active thermography approaches: pulsed thermography (PT), lock-in thermography (LT), and vibrothermography (VT), are discussed in relation to the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of honeycomb sandwich structures. For this purpose, two standard specimens with simulated defects (delaminations, core unbonds, excessive adhesive, and crushed core) were tested, and results were processed, examined, and compared. As will be pointed out, the similarities and differences between these active approaches allow conclusions to be made about the most suitable approach for a particular application. In addition, results from NDE inspection by X-rays and c-scan ultrasounds are provided and discussed for reference.